The Husqvarna 701, pretty crazy looking: http://www.cycleworld.com/2013/11/05/husqvarna-supermoto-prototype-unveiled/
Its KTM 690SM based on LC4 engine with prototype plastics... Tedious and nothing really ingenious. Bring us next-gen Terra, Husky !!!
I wonder what type of material the seat is made out of. Looks uncomfortable. I'd like to see something else in the works to replace our TRs..
I suspect they will sell about 7 of those. Ugly, uncomfortable, and nothing new. The limited numbers will make it an instant classic Seriously though, there is a major hole the in the Dual Sport/650 displacement ADV market that the TR teased into existence. I thought for a while that Ducati might step up with a new Scrambler single... sadly the spy-shots look like a slightly re-imagined monster. Meh, makes my TR that much sweeter. Still loving this bike more and more.
Message to Stefan Pierer "Give the Terra/Strada a decent screen as standard, get a dealer network that REALLY knows what it's doing (and doesn't charge like a wounded bull !!), keep the price reasonable.....and watch sales steadily grow. You already said, when you purchased Husky from BMW, that you wanted to compete with the Japanese...and these bikes blow them away totally. We'll even forgive you for making the valve check a superhuman effort!!! If you deviate from that path, you will have missed one of the greatest market opportunities". As for that "thing" in the thread above, if you puked on it you would be doing it a favour.
Sure they can the Terra and will build that ugly bastard....I'm glad Husky is returning to there "ROOTS". Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy ! There I feel better now.....LOL
I read the comments above before clicking on the link. Thought 'it can't be that bad'. Surprise! It is one supremely ugly motorcycle! Reminds me of something but I can't think what...
It would be cool if polisport, assuming they did the plastic, would offer a Baja kit for our bikes. But I doubt that will happen. I remember reading during the buyout that Stefan Pierer really liked the Baja concept. This was about the same time when there was some confusion if the TR's were going to be canned like the Nuda. I think he did not realize the Baja and the TR's were so heavily based on the BMW 650's Perhaps the Baja will return with the 690 mill in it.
+1 A well balanced LC4 powerplant that won't rattle your teeth and 'straight line" the seat edge from the tank to the number plate and I'm in. I think BMW underestimated the drawof the retro design and went with the Terra/Strada platform. Placed side by side in the showroom I'd have paid more for the Moab.
Looking from perspective, I really think Pierer knew that right from the start that he was going to dump TR's. He just didnt want to be left with unsold stock... C'mon it was the best-selling husky for years when he bought it ! If you're buying someone out, you care most for their best-sellers. At least thats what my own customers, that I advised on their take-overs, mostly did.
Looks a little better in these pics. Still not a huge fan of the bodywork, looks expensive, which kinda defeats the point of a street supermoto... http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/bikes/husqvarna-701-concept/
Get rid of ~50% of those rear plastics and it would look MUCH better! Is it me....or does that seat look to span the entire distance from the forks to the tail?
Yay concepts, haha. The seat is also ribbed for your pleasure... (It may very well be just a plactic molded piece to represent a seat...)
There ya go. It didn't need 50% less plastic in the back, it needed more in the front It is the head light that makes it look so bad. It looks like a hacked up one from an old honda XR.
OK, maybe it does still need less in the back too. Your version does look much better balanced. I don’t know how much of that plastic is covering a fuel tank. Perhaps that was the better look assuming it has a big tank on the opposite side of the exhaust. If it is just air space to mimic the covered exhaust, then it is too much.
